Metal-working.



N. E. CLARK.

mam wonxms. APPLICATION FILED JUL? 16, I915- 1,224,877. I Patented May I, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

avwewto'z MrnIs' Elmo mark, 33 q flttozue N. E. CLARK.

METAL WORKING.

APPLICATION nun JULY 10. 1915.

Patented May 1, 1917.; 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 l avweutoz .Nvnk' Emw'e (Yank 3gmttomw .N. E. CLARK.

METAL WORKING.

I APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 3915. 1,224,877. Patented May 1, 1917.

V' nmuto $514M alien m3 j tangentially to gpaced NORRIS ELMORE CLARK, 0F PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

METAL-WORKING.

Continuation in part of application Serial No. 869,025,4i1ed October 28, 1914.

To of] whom 1'2. may roncorn:

lie it known that I, Nomua ELMORE ('mun, a citizen of the United States of Amerira, and residing at llainville, in the ronnty of Hartford and State of Connectirut. have invented new and useful Improvements in .lletal-lVorking. of which the ML lowing is a speeitiration.

My invention relates to improvements in methods of and mechanism for forming what is rommonly termed expanded metal and partirularly of the type of my Patents #930,350; $21,104,476 and #LIQRJiSD having longitudinal strips or ribs and intervening meshwork sections.

()ne ohjert is to arrange the slitting for sperial high speed work. The main object is to open the slitted stork rapidly find inexprnsivrly without straining the metal or hurkling the longitudinal strips. Another object islo arruratrly guide and fold the Stl'llH-i into deep rihs. Another ohjert is to spread the mrshwork sol-{ions without distorting the ribs or straining the strands. Another ohjerl is to form shoulders in the sides of the deep rihs. Another objert is to open the mesh, shape the ribs and spread the fabric in a continuous operation.

The process generally is a development of that set forth in my Patents #979,130 and #LOSLMW. The slitting may be acromplished for instance by tools such as shown in my Patent #1,H6,55l. Certain features Of-tlle improvements claimed herein were disclosed in my application #869,025 now Patent #1,146,553 and this appliration is arcordingly a continuation of the fornwr as to the method and mechanism now claimed therein to the extent of the dis- ('lUHlll't! therein.

as herein shown the movable or punch (utters are n'iounted to move in a direction slightly inclined relative to the horizontal. In this way as a small component of the weight always rests on the crank or eccentric shaft there is little hack-lash. As the reriprorating parts move on an incline the vertiral component of the weight is small and the avoelul'ation due to gravity is slight. There is therefore a much less momentum of the moving parts on the down stroke than there would be if they moved. straight up and down. This minimizes wear and permits a maximum speed of operation.

The slitted stork is fed downwardly and rolls or disks and Specification of Letters Patent.

' trains of rolls after the Patented May 1, 1911'. This application filed July 10,

Serial No. 38,079.

guides which corrugate the stock so as to gradually open the meshwork. By paming partly around these rolls and guides a relative longitudinal movement of the alternate longitudinal strips is produced so as to get a maximum expansion without buckling.

The deep ribs are formed by a series of meshwork is opened and the oppositely inclined meshwork 8e0- tlons assist in guiding the stock while the deep rihs are lining gradually formed. After the deep ribs are formed they are spread apart by diverging rolls and guides so as to bring the meshwork into a common plane. Shallow inter-ribs may be formed at the same time. i This application also discloses details of improvement in the corrugating mechanism for opening the slitted stock and also in the deep rib forming and also in the spreading rolls as will more fully appear hereinafter.

Figure l, is a plan view of a fragment of material slitted or scored in the preferred arrangement.

Fig. 2. is a perspective view of a fragment of one form of the finished product with alternating deep and shallow ribs.

Fig. 3, is a perspective view of another form of pi'pduet with the deep and shallow rihs facing in opposite directions.

Fig. 4, is a perspective View of a fragment of product with shallow ribs only. 7

Fig. 5, is a sectional view of a fragment of product with deep ribs only.

Fig. 6, is a. fragmentary sectional view showing a deep rib with lateral shoulders and indentationsyand dies for forming the same.

Fig. 7, a diagrammatic plan view indicating the work at the different stages in the process of manufacture.

Fig. 8, is a diagrammatic side View indicatingmeehanism for out steps of theprocess.

Fig. 9. is a fragmentary side view showing the fabric in the operation of opening the meshwork.

Fig. merhanism for 0 ening the meshwor Fig. 11, is a si of part of the opening merhanism.

Fig: 12, is a fragmentary detail view of an edge holding guide. 'u

Fig. 13, is a transverse view partly in section showing the corrugating mechanism for opening the meshwork.

10, is a side view of corrugating e view and vertical section performing the diflerlot . the same alsoshowing a guide for the roll.

Fi 18, is an enlar ed fragmentary sectiona view of two rib nishing rolls.

To forhi a product such as shown in Fig. 2, the stock is first slitted, scored or punched as shown in Fig. 1 so as to leave unslitted strips 20, 20. lhe slitted section 21 is preferably made up of the two parts 22, 22 with an unslitted strip 23 between. The slits are in inclined rows so as to form strands such as 24 and '25 connected by bonds in staggored arrangement as at 26, 27 and 28. The

strands in the two opposite parts 22, 2'2 are inclined in opposite directions from the central strip 23. The slittin does not materially stretch the strands ut it may draw over the bonds slightly. The slitting mechanism is represented in Fig. 8 Where 30 indicates the stationary dies or cutters. The movable cutters 31 are reciprocated on an incline beneath the stock 32 by the crank disk 33 and rod 34. The stock may be fed and guided to the slitting tools for instance by rolls and guides 36.

After the stock is slitted it is passed through suitable guides to the corrugating rolls and guides in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 1 which bend the strands and open the slitted sections into ineshwork such as 37 in Figs. 9 and 13. The broad unslitted strips are then passed through rolls and guides and gradually folded into ribs or;

, beams 38. The ribs are then separated and the meshwork is spread or flattened into a common plane, if desired. The narrow unslitted strips may be ribbed as at 39 while the doc ribs are being formed, or afterward, either while the meshworkis being spread or after it is spread.

Ihave illustrated in Fig. 7 the formation of a fabric with three deep ribs but it is obvious that the machine may be designed to handle any number. vThe heavy transverse lines 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 in Fig. 7 reprethe process.

sent the approximate cross sectional shapes of the work at different successive stages 111 Each broad unslitted stri is guided around the lower face of a rol or disk 46 and supported on rolls 47 and 48 and the connecting guide 49. The rolls 46 are all mounted to rotate with shaft 50. Rolls 47 rotate with shaft 51. Rolls 48 rotate with shaft 52. Guides 49 are all carried "faces of the guides 49 may be provided with by cross bar 53. The upperend of each guide fits close to its roll 47 andalso carries a roll 54 which runs on roll 48. Rolls 46, 47 and 48 are preferably driven. Shaft 50 is preferably carried by boxes such as 55 adjustable on an incline toward rolls 47 and 48-. This shaft is preferably pressed toward rolls 47 and 48 by springs such as 58 and followers 57. The cap 58 may be removable so as to permit removal of shaft 50 and its rolls. Midway between adjacent rolls 46 is a curved member, preferably a rotatable, annular, roll or ring 60 -which carries the center of the slitted section down between rolls 47 and between rolls 48. Each ring 60 has ball hearings on a carrier 61. The balls 62 may be inserted by removing the segment 63. The carriers are supported by arms 64 and 65 from cross bars 66 and 67 which are vertically adjustable in the housings so as to vary the height of the rings 60 and the extent of the action.

Tables or guides 70 are preferably provided to support the broad unslitted strips each ring 60 to guide the center of the meshwork section 37. The outer roll '46 may be provided with a flange 72 to extend over the'edge of the meshwork to assist in holdin the outer strip 20 inflthe bight of the r0 s 46, 47 and 48. The outer guide 70 may also be provided with a cover 7-3 and flange 74 to assist in guiding the outer strip20 after it leaves the mile 46 and 48. The rolls 46, 47 and. 48, the guides 49 and 70, the rings 60 and guides 71 are all preferably laterally adjustable to provide for stock and slitting of different widths. The upper a series of roller bearings to reduce the friction iii-desired. A band or belt may be provided around the lower rolls 47 and 48 with its upper face runnin beneath the roll 46 as shown in Fig. 28 o my application #869925 to direct the unslitted strips of the stock. 7

After the mesliwork is opened, the broad iinslitted striiis20 are gradually folded, or longitudinally corrugated alon' the centers into the deep beams or ribs 38 y a series of die devices such as guides 75, 76 812(110115 77, 78 and 79,80 of the proper cross'sectiunal shape. Fi .15 shows dies 77 and 73' for one of the intermediate forming stages of a, rib 38. This figure also shows intermediate die rolls 81 and 82 for forming a rib 23' and guides 83 and 84 for the ineshwork. These guides direct the meshwork while the ribs are being formed.

After the deep ribs 38 are formed they are separated laterally by diverging trains of rolls such as 90 and 91. 92 and 93, and 94 and 95 and guides such as 96 and 97 so as to spread or flatten the meshwork into a. common plane. The intermediate strips 23 may be acted upon at the same time by rolls such as 98 and 90, 100 and 101 for feeding or shaping.

When the angle of divergence of the ribs is very great, I prefer to mount the spreading rolls so that they rotate in the plane of movement of the ribs as shown in Fig. 7 so as to prevent lateral binding. This may be readily accomplished by a universal type of connection between each roll and its shaft as shown in Figs. 16 and 17. The shaft 103 (or 103) carries a collar 10-1 with two pivot studs 105. On these studs is pivoted a ring 106 carrying two pivot studs 107 at right an les to studs 105. The ring 106 may be ho low and contains a lubrirant for the studs 105 and 107. The roll 95 is annular in form and is pivotally carried by studs 107. In this way the roll can rotate in a plane oblique to the axis of the shaft. The plane of rotation ran be determined by the guide 109 (or 109) -whieh serves as a lateral support for the roll 95. Ball bearings 110 may be provided if desired to reduce the friction. The guide 100 may be mounted so as to permit of adjustment on its base 111 so as to vary the angle of inelination of the guide 100 if desired and thus vary the angle of (llVPIQ'UIM'P. of the ribs. Fig. 17 also shows guides 113 and 114 for the narrow trips 223 which are here shown as fiat.

After the meshwork has been spread out the ribs may be passed through one or more pairs of finishing rolls 110. 117 for instance as shown in outline in Fig. 8 and the r-onstruetion of which is shownin detail in Fig. 18. Disks 120 and 1:21 engage the erown of the rib and may serve as feeding devices. The flanges 122 are engaged by the rolls 123 and 124 \vhirh are allowed to turn freely on the hubs 125 and 120 so as to allow for the difference in linear speed due to the different diameters of the rolls (see Fig. 18).

The produrt shown in Fig. 3 may be formed in a similar manner by substituting appropriate guides and rolls in place of the train of deep rib guides 75 and to rolls llf'i and lli' inclusive in order to form the deep ribs 130 as shown in my applieation #soapes.

To form the product of Fig. 4 all of the rolls and guides should be of a width, shape and sparing to handle narrow strips and open the mesl'iwork and to form the shallow ribs 131 instead of deep ribs.

To form the product of Fig. 5 the rings 0,, She opener must be wide enough to han le the wide inter-strip for the deep rib 133 and deep rib forming rolls and guhlesmust be substituted for the shallow intermediate rib rolls and guides. This also shows a meshwork with only six rows of openings instead of eight and of course re uires different cutters in the slitter.

he sides of the deep ribs may be treated to inerease the bonding effect in the remeut and com-rote by providing reeesses or holes 135 as shown in Fig. Ii or lateral shoulders 137 as shown in Fig. 0. The holes should be formed in the stor-l; before formin; the ribs and preferably at the same time as the slitting. The lateral shoulders may be formedby indenting the sides by Hills 138 while the rib is supported by a guide or roll 13!) and its rrowu held down by a guide or roll 140. This is preferably done after the fabrir is spread out laterally.

The notion of opening the meshu'orl: and forming the ribs being a natural l'onlinllous' one the \vorlLmay be fed by driving all or part of the rolls so as to give a uniform speed to all of the unslitted strips. The intermediate strips 2-; as they pass around the lower tures of the rings (30 travel farther than the strips 20 and thus produee a relative'longitudiual movement of the alternate strips Whirl] permits the opening to take plare without any tendenry to burkle or strain the metal. ll'hatevrr drag is oerasioned by the rings 30 tends to hold bark thiinter-strips and thus farilitatrs the opening arhon.

it will be obvious that any suitable system of drive may be employed sueh as spur or bevel gears rhains or belts. 'lho slitting may be performed in one marhine and the reu'mining operations in another lnarhino. The slitting and opening of the mesh may he perfornn'd in one marhinr and the rib forming and spreading in another marhine. or the rib forming and spreading may be perfornu-d in separate marbinrs.

' 'lhe slitting merhanism shown being ofthe reriprm-atiug step-by-step type requires that the other parts of the morhanism shall operalr intermittently when roupled in a single machine. if any of the other steps are earried-out in mac-blues independent of the slitting nun-hino they may be operated eontinuously. ln'any event a produrt of any desired length ran be handled by this proress. Lath with shallow ribs surh as shown in Fig. 4 may be spread laterally by a series of trains of diverging deviees sueh as shown in my uppliration #747,043, now latrnt.

ribs guide the stoek during the lateral 139 ing the beams and bringin spreading action, and the simultaneous corrugation of the interri bs facilitates the action.

What I claim is 1. The method. of forming expanded metal which comprises forming oppositely inclined rows of slits in a section of stock between unslitted strips, then fcedin said unslitted strips forward on curved lines and simultancously carrying the center of the slitted section around another curved line to a plane parallel with but spaced apart from the plane of the unslitted strips thereby producing a relative longitudinal movement be tween the unslitted strips and the center of the slitt-ed section and opening the meshwork.

2. The method of forming reticulated fabric which comprises scoring certain sections along diagonal lines in staggered arrangement and leaving unscored strips at the edges and between the scored sections, then corrngating the sheet and moving all the strips in the same direction out of their original plane beginning at one end of the sheet and progressing gradually along curved lines, alternating strips at a given transverse section moving out of their original plane in advance of the other stri s and opening the meshes adjacent the fir nieiitioned'strips in advance of the meshes adjacent the other strips.

3. The method of forming meshwork which consists in scoring sections of a sheet alon rows alternately inclined to the right and left to form narrow strands connected in staggered arrangement and leaving unscored marginal and intervening strips, directing the unscored strips in a curved plane and directing the center of each scored section in another curved plane away from the first mentioned curved lane and thereby bending the strands gradua llyand uniformly to open the meshwork.

4. The method of forming a reticulated metal fabric which comprises, scoring parallel sections of a sheet leaving unscored marginal and intermediate strips, ,corrugating the sheet so as to bring the alternate strips into separated parallel planes and to open the scored sections into oppositely inclined meshwork sections, then corrugating some of the unscored strips to form beams, then s readthe mes work sections all into a common p ane, and simul taneously corrugating the other unscored strips.

5. The method of forming a reticulated fabric which comprises slitting a longitudr' nal section along oppositely inclined lines and in staggered arrangement to form strands inclined tower the center and leav ing longitudinal marginal and central unslitted strips, feedin the slitted stock in a direction such that tie strands are inclined toward the center in the direction of feed, carrying the marginal unslitted strips into a. plane inclined to the plane of feed, carrying the central unslitted strip into another lane and thereby moving the marginal uns itted strips forward relative to the central unslitted strip and opening the meshwork into oppositely inclined sections. a

6. The method of forming a reticulated fabric whicli'comprises slitting a longitudinal section along oppositely inclined lines and in staggered arrangement to form strands inclined toward the center and leaving longitudinal marginal and central unslitted strips, feeding the slitted stock in a direction such that the strands are inclined toward the center in the direction of feed, carrying the marginal unslitte'd striips into a plane inclined to the plane of eed, carrying the central unslitted strip into another plane, thereby moving the marginal unslitted strips forward relative 'to the central unslitted strip and opening the mesh'work into oppositely inclined sections, and folding some of said unslitted strips to form channel-like ribs.

7. The method of forming a reticulated fabric which comprises slitting a longitudinal section along oppositely inclined lines and in staggered arrangement to form strands inclined toward the center and leaving longitudinal marginal and central unslitted strips, feeding the slitted stock in a direction such that the strands are inclined toward the center in the direction is 109 feed, carrying the marginal unslitted strips into a plane inclined to the plane of feed, carrying the central unslitted strip into another plane, thereby moving the marginal unslitted strips forward relative to the central unslitted strip and opening the meshwork into oppositely inclined sections, fold ing some of said unslitted strips to form channel-like ribs and then forming the remaining unslitted strips into channel-like ribs.

8. The method of forming a reticulated fabric which comprises slitting a longitudi nal section along oppositely inclined lines and in staggered arrangement to form strands inclined toward the center and leavmg longitudinal marginal and central unslitted strips, feeding the slitted stock in a direction such that the strands are in{ clined toward the center in the direction of feed, carrying the marginal unslitted stri s into a plane inclined to the plane of cod, can-yin the central unslitted strip into another p one, thereby moving the marginal unslitted strips forward relative to t a central unslitted strip and opening the meshwork into oppositely inclined sections and then spreading the meshwork a common plane.

9. The method of yiorming expanded 136 metal which comprises forming oppositely inclined rows of slits in a section of stock between unslitted strips, the]. feeding said unslitted strips forward on cui-i'etl lines and simultaneously carrying the center of the slittcd section around another curved line to a plane parallel with but spaced apart from the plane of the unslitted strips thereby producing a relative longitudinal movement between the unslitted strips and the center of the slitted section, folding some of the unslitted strips to form grooved rib members and then spreading the mesl1- work into' a common plane.

10. The method of forming a reticulated fabric which consists in feeding a sheet downward on an incline and slitting portions of it while so inclined, and leaving marginal and interior unslitled strips, and

3m carrying the alternate unslitted strips into different planes to open the slitted portions.

11. The method of forming a ribbed expanded fabric which consists in carrying alternate unslitted strips into different planes to open the meshwork, then forming corrugations in all of the unslitted strips all opening toward the same face of the fabric, and spreading the meshwork into a common plane.

12. In an expanded metal machine, in-

' clined slitting mechanism for slitting sections of stock in an inclined position, cor-' rugating mechanism for opening the meshwork and horizontal guides for the mesh work.

13. In an expanded metal machine, an upper'set of spaced rolls, two lower sets of spaced rolls coacting therewith, a set of guides below the upper'set of rolls and a 40 set of curved guiding members extending down between the lower rolls for carrying the centers of slitted sections downwardly.

14. In an expanded metal machine, two uppersets of rotating members, a shaft for one of said sets, the other'set being in the form of rings eccentrically disposed upon said shaft, and two sets of lower rotatable members coacting with one of said upper sets, the members of the other upper set being arranged .so that their lower edges rotate between the members of thelower sets.

15. In an expanded metal machine, a set of spaced rolls, guidin devices for carryingunslitted strips 0 a partially slitted sheet around one faceof aid rolls and rotating members extending between said guiding devices and between said rollsfor carrying the centers of tne slitted sectrons out of the plane of the said unslit ted strips.

16. In an expanded metal machine, spaced strip-'engaging.rolls, rotatable annular members between said rolls for carrying the centers of slitted sections out of the, plane of 66 strips on the periphery of said rolls to open the meshworlc and int-ans for adjusting said annular members to vary the opening action.

17. In an expanded metal machine. a set of upper spared rolls, two sets ol'- lower spam-d rolls mat-ting the! with, curved guides between said rolls and means for adjusting the upper l'Ull.- simultam-onsi toward both of the sets of the lower rolls.

IH. In an expanded metal machine, upper and lower sets. of spared strip feuling rolls. curred guides beneath the upper rolls and leading tothe lower rolls and rotatable guidin; numbers between the rolls of the two sets and between the curred guides.

19. In an expanded metal machine upper 30 and lower rib guiding rolls and lateral indenting devices operating on the sides of the ribs while the ribs are sup 'mi'ted by the guiding rolls to thereby form longitudinally extending under-cut channels. 35

20. In an expanded metal machine, diverging trains of rib guiding devices including ribbed and grooved rolls, transverse shafts for said rolls, a universal connection between some of said rolls and their shafts,

and guides for directing said rolls to a plane of rotation in the direction of divergence of the ribs guided by said rolls.

2]. In an expanded metal machine, a plurality of rotatable rolls on the same axis for engaging the crowns of the ribs and intermediate rib finishing rolls on the same axis rotatable independently of the first mentioned rolls for engaging the flanges of the ribs and other r'olls coiiperating with said first and second sets of rolls to finish the crowns and the flanges of the ribs.

22. In an expanded metal machine, upper and lower rib-guiding devices and lateral indenting rolls for formin shoulders in the sides of the ribs while the r1 5 are supported on said guiding devices.

23. The method of forming a reticulated metal product which consists in slitting portions of a sheet in staggered arrangement, leaving unslitted marginaland intermediate strips, simultaneously forming perforations in the unslitted strips on op osite sides of the center lines thereof and a terward openingthe slitted portions to form meshwork 116 and folding the perforated strips to form grooved ribs.

24. The method of forming a reticulated metal product which consists in slitting portion's of a sheet in staggered arrangement, 120 leaving v.nnslitted strips, opening the slitted portion to foim a meshwork, folding unslitted strips to form grooved ribs and then indenting the sides of the ribs to form lateral shoulders.

25. In an expanded metal machine, a se- This of rib-formlng dies arranged to engage parallel nnslitbed 'strips of a sheet haying 'lnclined ineshwork areas between said strips,

oppositely inclined guides extending between said dies for engaging the 0 pbsitely clined sides of the meshwork between said dies and guiding said incshwork while the a sheet having oppositely inclined meshwork sections, eppositcly and laterally inclined guides extending between said rolls and engaging one face ofzl'he meshwork to direct it between said rolls, and rolls between said guides for engaging part of the stock therebetwcen. I

28. In an expanded metal machine, a se ries of rolls for engaging unslitted strips of a sheet having oppositely inclined meshwork sections, and two sets of oppositely and laterally inclined guides extending between said rolls and engagin respectively the u per and lower faeeso the meshwork to rect it between said rolls.

29. In an expanded metal machine, a series of pairs of upper and lower inclined stationary guides for meshwork sections, the guides of adjacent pairs bein inclined in opposite directions and some 0 the pairs being spaced apart and means for drawing the meshwork between the upper and lower guides.

30. In an expanded metal machine, :1 Se ries of pairs of u per and lower inclined stationary guides or meshwork sections, the guides of adjacent pairs being inclined in opposite directions and some of the pairs being spaced apart and rolls between some .of said pairs of guides for drawing the meshwork between the upper and lower guides.

NORRIS ELMORE CLARK.

\Vitnesses:

A. 'A. MoLEon, D. G. CLARK.

It, is hereby certified that. in Letters Patent No. 1224,877, gram/ed May I. 19]? upon the application of Norris Elmore Clark, of Plainville, Connecticut, for u improvement in Metial-Working," an error appears in the print-ed specificatio requiring correction as follows: Page: 1, lino 39, for this word "now rear] not; an that the said Letters Patent, should be read with this correction therein that ii! same may conform to the record of tha case in the Patent Oflice.

$ignod and sealed this 26th day of June, A. D., 1917.

R. w 1m EH in .w,

Aiding Commissioner cf Pam-1h.

IamL] 

